Indy race snagged by red tape abandons Boston

Race cars like this one in 2010 won’t be zipping around Boston streets any time soon. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org)

BOSTON (AP) — Organizers are scrapping plans for an IndyCar race on the streets of Boston.

John Casey, president of the Grand Prix of Boston, told the Boston Globe on Friday that the relationship between promoters and the city isn’t working.

A document released from Mayor Marty Walsh’s office suggested that Grand Prix of Boston had failed to meet deadlines for obtaining agreements from affected neighborhood residents, businesses and government agencies. The letter indicated that the city was willing to give the organizers more time, but not much – just five days.

“The City of Boston will always be open to opportunities that will positively showcase our city, however as we continued to work with Boston Grand Prix they were unwilling or unable to meet the necessary requirements to hold an event of this size,” Patrick Brophy, the city’s chief of operations, said in a statement. “The mayor feels strongly in protecting the taxpayers and limiting the impact to residents, and we are not shy that we held them to very high standards.”

The race was scheduled for the Labor Day weekend in the South Boston Seaport District. Organizers had hoped to construct a temporary street course around the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Walsh and organizers signed an agreement last May calling for annual races for up to five years.

Opponents argued the race would have negative impacts to the environment and neighborhood safety.

Casey said organizers are hoping to hold the race in a backup city in the Northeast.

He said promoters have had contact with two other cities, one of which is in New England.